Sharjah, UAE, September 22, 2008: H.E. Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority and Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee for Sharjah Ramadan Festival 2008, recently inaugurated the 2008 Ramadan Exhibition as part of this year’s edition of the annual festival at the Sharjah Expo Centre.
The ceremony was attended by key Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Board Members, Higher Organizing Committee representatives, and officials which included Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, Chairman of the Board and Vice President of the Festivals’ Higher Organizing Committee; SCCI Director General Hussein Mohammed Al Mahmoudi; Mohammed Ahmed Amin, Assistant Director General of Economic and International Affairs and General Coordinator of the Festival; and Ibrahim Rashid Al Jarwan, Director of the Economic Affairs Department and Assistant General Coordinator of Sharjah Ramadan Festival.
Also in attendance were Sharjah Expo Centre Director General Saif Mohammed Jasim Al Midfa and a number of officials, private sector and organizational leaders, and businessmen.
H.E. Sheikh Sultan said that such events reflect the Festival’s aim of enhancing awareness on the prominent cultural, economic, social, artistic and traditional aspects of society. He added that they also complement the vision of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, that Sharjah maintain its image as a unique destination which holds events that highlight the heritage, values and principles of the people of the UAE. He added that the high level of coordination, cooperation and conformity seen in the Festival events are the fruit of productive partnerships between Sharjah’s government and local departments as overseen and supported by H.H. Sheikh Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.
H.E. Sheikh Sultan further explained that the activities promote active private sector participation in the Festival and other promotional initiatives benefiting Sharjah. He also praised the efforts of the Exhibition organisers and expressed his hope that the 2008 Festival would achieve its goals for the benefit of society.
For his part, Al Midfa confirmed that the exhibition’s organization is up to date and meets SCCI’s aim of enhancing the private sector’s contribution to local progress. This conforms with the Festival’s objectives, which are not limited to promoting national economic sectors and boosting commercial and tourism activities only, but rather extends to creating a vital link with and among all segments of society.
Al Midfa added that the Chamber, in close coordination with the Higher Organizing Committee and through the help of government and private-sector sponsors, has been focusing on providing a suitable budget to fund events such as the Ramadan Exhibition which accompany the Sharjah Ramadan Festival. He stated that this concern is in the spirit of the social, cultural and religious aspects that are highlighted by the Holy Month of Ramadan.
After cutting the ribbon and declaring the inauguration of the exhibition and its other activities, H.E Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qassimi led a tour of the various Exhibition stands. The first stop was a project on supporting productive women launched by the Sharjah Business Women Council under the direction of H.E. Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qassimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, and president of Sharjah Business Women Council.
Fatima Almaghni, Head of the Council’s Executive Committee, explained that the initiative aims to enhance women’s participation and contribution in local development, specifically by supporting the success of small private investment projects initiated by women.
The tour proceeded to the Sharjah Medical Zone stand, where H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, head of the stand, explained the role of the Ministry of Health and the Zone in providing medical care services. He said that his group will highlight Sharjah Medical Zone plans, programs and services such as a Sharjah project for healthy mouth and teeth, equipment for measuring blood pressure and glucose levels, and an initiative for quitting smoking. H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saqr added that the stand would also facilitate medical consultation, suggestions for improved general health, and free medical tests.
The Head of the Festival’s supreme organizing committee inaugurated the Heritage Village, with Abdullah Bin Mohamed Aloais, Head of Culture and Information Department in Sharjah, in attendance. An event highlight was the performance of traditional dancing groups who sang of Sharjah’s role in the UAE’s heritage and the pride of its citizens in their roots. Traditional crafts, foods and shows were also available.
The tour proceeded to the Sharjah Museum stand, which displayed many art and historical pieces in addition to traditional tools and montages on important eras in the history of Sharjah and UAE.
The inauguration ceremony concluded with the participation of the supreme organizing committee in the daily raffles that will be held until the Sharjah Ramadan Festival’s closing on October 2, 2008.
